Composite structural member



0d. 25, 1938, q. D. SHERMAN ET A1. 2,134,674

COMPOSITE STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed MaICh 9, 1936 gmc/1443016 Ja COb.D. Sherman Clair S. Reed Otis C. Currie,

Patented Oct. 25, 1938 f UNITE-D "STATES PATENT ortica y 2,134,674 ooMrosrrE STRUCTURAL MEMBER .Jacob D'. Sherman, Clair rS. Reed, and Otis C.'

Currie Jackson, Mich., assignors to Reynolds Spring Company, Jackson, Mich., a corporation ofDelaWare .Application March 9, 1936, Serial No. 67,924

' i2 Claims; (ci. 'iso- 40) i `This invention relates generally-to composite structural members of metal and `fibrous stock of the type and application disclosed in co-pend` ingapplication seria1.No65,4o4, flied Feb. 24,

1936,- .now Patent No. 2,089,005, granted Aug 3,

surfaces to receiverfastening instrumentalities if desired. v

Another object is to provide a strong, light, in-

expensive, unitary frame or structural element fabricated from two or more fibrous strips and a strip of sheet metal; the metal strip functioning as a reinforcing and securing member for the fibrous strips.

`A further object is to provide a composite structural member having two or more separate fibrous sections spaced by a reinforcing metallic section or sections.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent when considered in the light of the fo-llowing detailed description and the accompanying drawing. The invention `is clearlydefined in the appended claims.

In the drawing- Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, are broken oblique projections of several embodiments of the invention,

the composite members and fibrous members` being shown in section.

Referring to Fig. 1 the structural member Il] consists of lengths of brous strips I2 and I4 held in unitary relation by a lsheet metal strip I6 folded upon itself to provide a double flange edge I8, double wall central sections 2|] and 22,

other suitable fabricatedfibrous material preferably without grain although wood is not excluded. In practice, using twisted preformed paper stock, the strips I2 and. I4 will be preferably fed from reels into the rolling machine The I-beam like con-` where the metal strip I5 is given the shape shown andthe flanges thereof are rolled into embracing engagement' with the fibrous strips I2 and I4.

V4When thesei-lbrous strips have dried out they become extremely hard and provide a good nailing or tacking surface; the central sections 2t and 22 serving to deiiec't the end of the nail or tackto` anchorthe same in position in a well known manner. Among its many uses the structural member shown in Fig. l may be used to advantagebecause .of its strength and lightness in the fabrication offrameworks for upholstered furniture and seatconstruction for vehicles.

`In the modification shown in Fig. 2 the structural member 28 consists of brous strips t@ `and 32 of rectangular cross-section .held in unitary lassembled relation by the sheet metal strip 34 folded upon `itself to provide a double wall T- shape side portion 36 .having flanged edges 38 and 40, double wall central sections 42 and 44 disposed between the `fibrous strips and 32 and flanged portions 46 and 48 embracing the fibrous strips 30 and 32 in the manner of the flanged edges 38 and 40. The structural member 35 may be fabricated in the manner heretofore described withreference to the structural member I0. It only differs therefrom in that greater portions of the fibrous strips are metal encased increasing the Vrigidity and strength of the construction at some sacrifice of the exposed area of the fibrous strips.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig.` 3 the structural member 5D comprises two fibrous strips 52 and 54 held in unitary relation by the metal strip 56 having sections 58 and t@ connected by diagonal section 62 spacing the strips 52 and 54. Flanges 64 and 66 retain the fibrous strips in position in the oppositely facing channels formed by the strip 56. The modification in Fig. 4 is similar to that in Fig. 3 and shows the members 68 fabricated from fibrous strips it and 'l2 of rectangular section with the metal strip 'I4 conforming to three sides of each fibrous strip. Flanges 'I6 and 'I8 slightly overlapping the eX- Yposed sides of the strips 'IIJ and 12 hold the latter in position.

Fig. 5 shows a modification similar in most respects to that of Fig. 2. The structural member im is made up of fibrous strips 82 and 84 spaced andheld in position by the T-shaped metal strip 'I'he structural member 96 shown in Fig. 6 is somewhat of a departure from the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, although embodying the same general structural features. The fibrous strips 98 and |00 are disposed in channels |02 and |04 defined by the metal strip and connected by the web |06. If desired flanges |08 and ||0 may be provided for the purpose of Welding the member 96 in position or to act as points of attachment for connecting members that may be Welded or otherwise secured tol these flanges in a manner disclosed in the aforesaid co-pending application. As shown, the strips 98 and |00 are disposed at right angles, however, the angularity of these strips may be varied to suit conditions by straightening out or changing the curvature of the web |06.

Each of the illustrated formsof the invention is characterized by the fact that it may be conveniently rolled in continuous lengths in production to give a strong, rigid, inexpensive, structural member which does not possess any of the undesirable characteristics of wooden structural members, namely, warping and splitting. Y

Having described our invention what we claim as new and desiretoprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A light Weight relatively rigid structural member for the fabrication of frames of vehicle seats, furniture and the like andcapable of being formed to the desired contourduring such fabrication, comprising a plurality o-frelongated strips of twisted paper of preformed cross-sec tional shape, an elongated strip of relatively light gauge sheet metal,l said elongated strip being formed to provide a` pair of channels with restricted openings denedbylongitudinal edge portions of said channels, said channels having a common web consisting o-f said strip folded laterally on itself, said edge portions consisting of relatively short flanges inclined inwardly from the edges of said web and on opposite sides thereof at an angle of less than ninety degrees, said paper strips being disposed in said channel and held against removal fromv Within said restricted openings by said edge portions, the surface of said strips being exposed between said longitudinal edge portions.

2. A light weight relatively rigid structural member for the fabrication of frames of vehicle seats, furniture and the like, comprising a plurality of elongated strips of preformed tack receiving material, an elongated strip of relatively light gauge sheet metal, said metal strip being formed s0 as tol provide a pair of channels with restricted openings defined by longitudinal edge portions of said channels constituting flanges, the web or" each of said channels being formed from a different section of said metal strip, one flange of each channel being formed from a common portion of said metal stripfolded upon itself to form a flange, said strips of tack receiving material being disposed in said channels and held against removal by said flanges, a portion of the surface of said strips of tack receiving material being exposed between said longitudinal edge portions, the common portion of said metal strip functioning to unite said channels into a unitary structure.

JACOB D. SHERMAN.

CLAIR S. REED.

OTIS C. CURRIE. 

